In Silence: A Dark High School Bully Romance (A Black Falls High Novel Book 2)

by K. G. Reuss

  A knock on the front door made me frown. It was after eleven at night.

  I went to it and peeked through the peephole, but no one was there. Figuring it was probably just kids being little jerks, I backed away and sat on the couch, waiting for Ethan to get home. My plan was to thank him for everything he’d done for me and then have him call the guys over. But I just needed those last few moments alone with him to make sure this was what he wanted. After all we’d been through lately, he had to be my first priority.

  A creaking of floorboards sounded out behind me. Frowning, I peered down the darkened hall. I stood up and walked toward the noise, my pulse roaring in my ears.

  “Hello?” I called out softly, my voice shaking. I stepped into Ethan’s room and noted his open window. Quickly, I crossed over to it and closed it, rubbing my arms from the brisk night air. When I turned to leave the room, I let out a shriek.

  “Hello, Rosalie,” Ian said, giving me a dark smile, his eyes glittering with cruel intentions.

  “Get away from me,” I shouted, rushing to the other side of the bed.

  Ian advanced quickly. I tried jumping over the bed to get away from him, but he caught my ankle and tugged me roughly backward. I screamed bloody murder as we fought, me kicking and hitting him until he straddled me with my hands pinned over my head. I still tried bucking beneath him, but he was so big, I didn’t stand a chance.

  With one hand, he fumbled with a roll of duct tape and tore a chunk off with his teeth. I stared up at him wide-eyed, knowing if Ethan didn’t get there soon, I’d be toast. He pressed the tape over my mouth, effectively silencing me.

  “Shh, shh, shh,” he tutted softly before turning me roughly onto my stomach.

  I fought against him, screaming behind my muzzle, as he bound my hands and then my feet. When he had me sufficiently tied, he flipped me back over and sneered down at me.

  “That’s better.”

  Another scream faltered on my tongue as he pulled a gun out of his back pocket and pushed it beneath my chin.

  “Now, I have a request,” he said easily, like he hadn’t just taken me hostage.

  I stared up at him fearfully.

  “I don’t want you to have that piece of shit’s baby. I figured you’d have mine, but that won’t work if there’s already a bun in the oven, will it?” He cocked his head at me. “So I was thinking. Abortion. But then I realized I have nothing on you to make you do that for me because you decided to fuck me over.” He traced the gun along my jaw and leered at me. “And wouldn’t you fucking know it, Juliet isn’t cooperating with me.”

  “So then I thought, why not help you out with that. I’ll get rid of that thing inside you then fill you with mine.”

  He was nuts. Certifiably insane! Ethan, oh god, Ethan! He was on his way home. Ian would kill him.

  “It’ll only hurt for a minute. If you end up dying, I guess that’s OK too. I’ll follow you into the afterlife. I said I wanted you forever. I meant it.”

  I shook my head vigorously at him as I squirmed beneath him. He ran his hand up beneath the sundress I was wearing.

  “You’re a stupid girl, Rosalie. Always giving it away to men who don’t care about you. I gave a damn about you. Me. You shoved me aside because I wasn’t one of them. You’ll pay. All of you will. And being mine forever will be a nice way to start.”

  No. No. NO!

  The rumble of the garage door filled the air as Ethan pulled his car in. Ian snapped his head in the direction of the door. In an instant, he jerked me off the bed by my feet and dragged me down the hall, my head hitting the floor with a loud thump.

  He dropped my legs unceremoniously behind the couch and moved to a corner.

  Shit. He was going to ambush Ethan.

  The door opened, and Ethan stepped into the house. Tears rushed down my cheeks as I stared at him. He hadn’t seen me yet.

  “Rosalie? Sweetheart? Where are you?” Ethan called out. His gaze swept through the room before coming to rest on me. His lips parted before he rushed at me.

  “Rosalie! What the fuck? What happened?” He tugged the tape off my mouth,

  I cried out, “Behind you! Ian!”

  But it was too late. Ian moved forward and smashed his gun into the back of Ethan’s head. Ethan crumpled to the floor beside me, blood trickling from the blow.

  “Now that was fun.” Ian let out a bark of laughter. “But we’re only getting started.”

  Forty

  Ian smashed me in the face with the butt of the gun next, and it was lights out. When I woke up, I was still on the floor, and Ethan was tied to a chair, his head lolling to the side, blood running down the side of his face.

  “Ethan,” I whimpered, trying to break free of my bonds to get to him.

  “Easy there, Rosalie,” Ian called out, rising from a dark corner like the fucking creeper he was. “We’re waiting for Prince Charming to wake up.” He tossed the notebook aside and smiled down at me. “Interesting read there. They’ve added to it since I saw it last.”

  “You’re a fucking piece of shit,” I shouted at him.

  “Aw, babe, you sound upset.”

  “Eat shit, Ian. Let us go.”

  “Why would I do that? I told you what I was going to do. I’m just waiting for Masters to wake up from his nap to do it. Figured I’d let him watch.”

  I struggled against my bonds, making Ian laugh maniacally. He went to Ethan and nudged him.

  “Wake up, you fucking piece of trash.” He poked Ethan hard in the chest with the gun over and over until Ethan’s eyelids fluttered open. He stared up at Ian confused before things seemed to click into place. Ethan let out a snarl and struggled against his restraints.

  “Listen, I want to make this fast, OK?” Ian said conversationally.

  Ethan didn’t stop struggling, which only made Ian laugh.

  “Rosalie,” Ethan choked out, his gaze landing on me still on the floor tied up. “Fuck. Rosalie!”

  Ian smashed his gun across Ethan’s face, snapping Ethan’s head to the side. Ethan let out a grunt of pain as I called out for him through my sobbing.

  “Listen, Masters. Here’s the plan, OK? Are you listening?” Ian got right in Ethan’s face.

  Ethan’s chin trembled, the blood pouring from his nose.

  “Good. Here’s the plan. I’m going to cut out that fucking abomination you put in my girlfriend’s belly. Then I’m going to put my own in there. After that, I’m going to let you kill yourself since everyone knows what a fucking messy time bomb you are. It’ll be perfect.”

  “It won’t work. I’ll tell everyone!” I shouted at Ian.

  He moved away from Ethan and kneeled in front of me. Slowly, he pulled out a knife and ran it along the barrel of his gun.

  “No. You won’t. You won’t be able to talk once I cut out your tongue. Shame, really, since you’re a great kisser. But a man has to do what he has to do. Right, Masters?” Ian let out a cackle and looked over his shoulder at Ethan.

  “Don’t,” Ethan choked out. “Please. I’ll do anything. Don’t hurt her.”

  “And why would I do anything for you? You stole my girlfriend from me. You got her pregnant.”

  “I’ll give you whatever you want,” Ethan continued, his body trembling. “Please don’t hurt her. Kill me. I’ll kill myself if you swear you’ll leave her alone.”

  Ian cocked his head at Ethan. “You’d kill yourself and take the heat off me?”

  “Anything for Rosalie.”

  “Ethan, no!” I shouted, desperate to break free. I struggled and tried to kick the bonds off to no avail. Ethan didn’t cast me another look.

  “There are pills in my dresser. I’ll overdose. Get them. I’ll take them all. I’ll die willingly if you free Rosalie. You can tell everyone we fought over her, and I couldn’t take the stress of her choosing you over me. Just free her!”

  “No,” I wailed. “Ethan, no!”

  Ian stepped back and surveyed Ethan.

  “Will you r
ecord a goodbye message?”

  “Yes,” Ethan rasped. “M-My phone is in my pocket. Get it. I’ll say anything you want me to say. Just promise that Rosalie goes free and unharmed.”

  Ian analyzed him for a moment before nodding and moving to get Ethan’s phone from his pocket. After a moment, he held it in his hands. He opened it, and I assumed turned on the voice recorder.

  He held it in Ethan’s direction and raised an eyebrow at him.

  Ethan licked his lips as I stared up at him, tears rolling down my cheeks.

  “This is Ethan Masters. I’m sick. I have been for a long time. The world doesn’t need a monster like me in it. I want my friends and family to know I’m sorry and I love them. And Rosalie, I said I’d die for you. I meant it. I fucking love you so much. Be brave and strong. I’ll always be with you. I’ll be your guardian angel, sweetheart.” He let out a soft sob.

  Ian ended the recording and smirked at me. “You hear that, sweetheart? He said he’d die for you. Guess he really loves you, huh?”

  “Ian, please. Please don’t do this. Don’t hurt him. Please! Whatever you want, I’ll do it.”

  “It’s so strange to me that you two are willing to sacrifice so much for one another. It almost makes me feel bad.”

  “You’re a rotten piece of shit, Hall. Just like your father,” Ethan spat, glaring at him.

  Ian laughed wildly. “Thank you, Masters. That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me. Tell me, how was Rosalie’s pussy? Is it still tight?”

  A muscle popped along Ethan’s jaw.

  “I bet it is.” Ian licked his lips. “You know, she never let me in. Always fought me even when I jammed my fingers into her cunt. Being such a slut, you’d think she would’ve fucked me but no. Always telling me no.” He shook his head at me. “You know, I thought that baby would be mine. I switched out your birth control, hoping you’d tell me yes. Do you remember our conversation?” He cocked his head. “What did I tell you, Rosalie?”

  “You’d give me a chance to say yes,” I whispered hoarsely.

  “Well, now is your chance, but I want to make this really fucking beautiful.”

  I watched as he got up and stood over Ethan. My pulse roared in my ears. Time seemed to stand still.

  “I don’t want you to just go to sleep, Masters. I want you to watch as I take it from her, baby and all, while you bleed out. It’ll be a nice little memory to keep her in line for me, so she knows what I’m capable of.”

  “Don’t, Ian.” I wept, watching as Ian kneeled beside Ethan and adjusted his bindings to get to his wrists.

  Ethan let out a shrill cry as Ian made a long, jagged slit down his wrist. Blood trickled onto the floor.

  “Ethan!” I screamed his name over and over as Ian made quick work of the other wrist.

  Ethan’s jaw trembled, his face pale as Ian stood and grinned down at him.

  “Death is a nice look on you, Masters. Better than anything else you’ve ever worn.”

  “Ethan,” I sobbed out again, my wrists and legs raw from twisting in my bindings.

  “I’ve had enough of you, Rosalie.” Ian stalked over to me and kicked me in the stomach. “I read that blunt force trauma to the abdomen can induce a miscarriage. I think that would be easier on you than me cutting the baby out of you. What do you think, Rosalie?” He dragged the tip of the knife along my stomach making me flinch.

  I let out a gasp as Ethan called my name weakly.

  “Masters, pay attention. I want the last thing you see is me taking what’s yours.” Ian cut the bonds on my legs. Before I could kick him away, he was between my legs, unzipping his pants. He ran the knife along my bare thighs beneath my sundress. The blade bit into my skin, making me jerk away. When he brought the blade against my panties, I froze, not wanting him to stab me down there and hurt the baby. Though how me or the baby would ever survive this I didn’t know.

  Ethan’s eyes grew wild as Ian rested his hand on my belly.

  “Don’t. Don’t fucking do it. You said you wouldn’t hurt her!” Ethan choked out. “Rosalie. Rosalie, sweetheart.”

  “I don’t recall saying that, Masters. Blood loss is fucking with your head.” Ian licked his lips and glared down at me.

  I trembled beneath his touch, bile burning my throat at the knowledge of what was to come.

  I locked gazes with Ethan. He struggled against his bonds, terror in his eyes. Ian let out a wicked laugh and shifted forward, touching me.

  “Look at me, Rosalie!” Ethan shouted, spit flying from his mouth as he struggled. “Don’t look at him. Look at me. Me and you. Us, baby. Always us. I love you. I love you so fucking much. Look at me, Rosalie!”

  I kept my eyes on Ethan as terror tore through me. I didn’t look though. Ethan was my anchor between this world with him and the one of pain Ian was bringing me to.

  “Rosalie,” Ethan wept as Ian grunted. My skin burned with eat bite of the knife as he tested my flesh.

  “Ethan,” I whispered, a tear falling from my eye as Ian made to push forward.

  And then somehow Ethan was free. He stumbled forward and knocked Ian away from me. The knife nicked my arm, making me see stars for a minute. They both tumbled to the floor in a heap of arms and legs. The gun went sliding away, the knife beside me. Weakly, I reached for the weapon and managed to cut myself free, fumbling many times before I achieved success. Blood ran down my thighs. My stomach was wet with it. I didn’t dare look at the damage, opting to hold my abdomen as I staggered forward, knife in hand.

  But I wasn’t fast enough, and Ethan had lost too much blood. Ian overpowered him and grabbed the gun, triumph on his bloody face. He aimed it at Ethan who sat up on his elbows, his face pale and sweaty, blood still oozing from his wrists.

  “I’ve changed my mind. Fuck letting you take the glory in your sentimental fucking goodbye. Sorry, Masters. Sometimes the bad guy wins. Tell the devil I said hi.”

  And he pulled the trigger.

  Forty-One

  I stared in horror as blood blossomed from Ethan’s chest. His mouth fell open, and his gaze locked on mine.

  “Rosalie. . .I-I’m sorry,” he choked out, falling to his side. Blood began pooling around him as his eyelids fluttered.

  “Ethan! NO!” I screamed, staggering to him.

  Ian caught me around the waist and hauled me back. I turned, and with all the strength I had, I thrust the knife at him.

  But Ian was fast and knocked it away before it hit its mark, clattering to the floor. He pointed the gun at my face as I clutched my stomach, my breath coming in sharp gasps as I struggled to remain upright. Fear flooded every fiber of my being as I stared down the barrel.

  I can’t lose Ethan! Please, God! The baby!

  “I’ll fucking shoot you in the face, Rosalie. Don’t try me. It would be a terrible loss, but I’ve lost plenty already in my life.” He glared at me, his eyes filled with hatred.

  And then he struck me across the face with the gun, sending me flailing to the floor. He was on me in minutes, his fingers in my hair, as he dragged me across the floor, kicking and screaming, my face bleeding.

  “Ethan! Ethan!” I screamed, reaching for him. He lay on his side, his eyes glassy, his chest barely moving.

  Please, God, don’t let him die! Please!

  “Ethan!” I cried out one last time before Ian bent over and smacked me in the face with the gun twice.

  My world went black. My last image was of Ethan’s lips parting and his soft voice choking my name as the blood tickled from his mouth.

  Epilogue

  Cole

  “You think she’s going to want us?” I asked, settling back on the leather couch in my living room.

  “Yes.” Fox paced the room. “Ethan said he’d text or call or some shit. It’s been over an hour. What the fuck is going on? This isn’t like him.”

  “Maybe he’s getting some,” I grunted, swallowing the rest of my whiskey. I knew I shouldn’t be drinking, but life had me by the balls. I wasn
’t an anxious guy, usually opting to leave that shit to Ethan. But fuck, I was fucking shit up bad. Walking out on Rosalie when she needed me ate at me like a fucking hungry animal.

  I’d be surprised if she didn’t kick me in the nuts when she saw me again.

  If she ever wanted to see me again.

  I shoved the ugly thought out of my head. If Fox could worm his way back in after his bullshit deal with Juliet, so could I. If I didn’t have a little shred of hope, I didn’t have shit.

  I had to make this work. I was so in love with that girl.

  And she’s having my baby. Our baby. I was going to be a father.

  I cleared my throat as Enzo’s phone buzzed.

  He lifted a brow at us before answering.

  “Ethan. Man, what’s going on—” His brows crinkled, and he dropped the stress ball he’d been squeezing.

  “We’re coming.” Enzo nodded for us, and we were on his heels in moments as he raced out the door.

  Worry coursed through me. Enzo rarely got upset, but I could feel the fear rolling off him as he ran to his car.

  Wordlessly, we piled in. The Bluetooth connected as we peeled out of the driveway.

  “I-Ian took her. I-I tried,” Ethan’s voice was weak and choked.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Fox demanded.

  “S-Shot me. S-Sorry.”

  I stiffened as Fox let out a surprised choke. Enzo punched his steering wheel. Fox immediately pulled his phone out as I sat staring at the dashboard, my body numb inside.

  “Ethan, are you home?” Fox called out.

  “F-F-For now. N-Not m-m-much lon-longer.”

  “Fuck,” Enzo growled. “Don’t talk man. Don’t move. We’re coming. Save your energy.”

  Ethan’s breaths came in short, sharp gasps. It was agony to listen helplessly as one of my best friends lay dying over a fucking phone call.

  And Rosalie. That prick had my girl. If Ethan was this hurt, I shuddered to think about the condition of Rosalie.

  “There’s been a shooting,” Fox shouted into his phone. “My friend was shot.” Fox rattled off Ethan’s address to 9-1-1 as I continued to sit in the backseat. Every possible awful scenario rushed through my head.